McIlroy shares a laugh with Tiger Woods before their 2012 match in China called the Duel at Kinsha Lake. / Hong Wu, Getty Images

by Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, the 23-year-old Northern Irishman won the Dubai World Championship and officially wrapped up the Race to Dubai title. In winning both money titles on the PGA and European tours, McIlroy won five tournaments in 24 starts, including the PGA Championship for his second major title; had nine other top-five finishes, including four runner-ups; and won $11,953,586 to break Tiger Woods' 2007 record for most money won in a single year ($10,867,052). He also stretched his lead in the official world golf rankings to 4.33 points over No. 2 Luke Donald, a lead not seen at the top since Woods led Stricker by 4.53 points at the end of February 2010.

So where does this magical year rank since the calendar hit 2000?

It's up there - just not Tigeresque.

As brilliant as McIlroy's year was - and his future seems - no player can touch Woods' 2000, when he won 10 times in 22 official PGA and European tour events. That included the Open Championship, the Canadian Open and the U.S. Open, where he won at Pebble Beach by 15 shots. He also bagged his third major of the year in a playoff win at the PGA Championship.

That year, Woods also lost in the Match Play final, was runner-up at The Players, the Buick Invitational and The Tour Championship. As well, he was on the winning teams at the World Cup and Presidents Cup and won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Woods' 2007 wasn't bad, either - seven wins, including the PGA Championship; a victory in The Tour Championship to wrap up the inaugural FedExCup Playoffs; and wins in the Presidents Cup and the Target World Challenge.

In 19th hole debates about the best years since 2000, Vijay Singh's name has to come up. In 2004, the Big Fijian took over the top spot in the world golf rankings with nine wins, including the PGA Championship. He also finished runner-up in the season-opening Mercedes Championships and the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World Resort.

So McIlroy's 2012 is among the best. And it shows that a Tigeresque year like 2000 is within reach.